Aylesbury bowed out of the League Cup for another season, beaten 2-1 in extra-time by Windsor & Eton after a tight encounter at The Meadow.
Mark Jones, in his caretaker-caretaker manager position due to the absence of Mark Eaton, switched the side to a 4-4-2 system, recalling James Saulsbury at right-back was also boosted by the returns of Carl Kavanagh and Matt Butler from suspension and injury respectively.
The Ducks made a good start and took the lead on twelve minutes when Butler caught a half-volley perfectly, sending a powerful effort curling away from the keeper into the top corner and in off the post. Butler's goals are rare, but usually worth waiting for. 1-0 Aylesbury
It was a bolt out of the blue amongst a quiet opening period, and United weren't able to build on the goal in the way they would've wanted.
They fashioned a half chance on twenty minutes when Saulsbury delivered a hanging cross which was met by Kevin Mealor, but he could only head straight at keeper Chico Ramos.
Half chances was about as good as things got in the first half hour, but they were all going Aylesbury's way as Ben Stevens had a long range effort blocked and Hawkins blazed over on the volley from Mead's delivery.
Early indications are that Aylesbury's new look backline is in need of some fine tuning by the caretaker leaders, as they were unlocked by simple through balls on a number of occasions.
One such pass released Ben Porter but he placed his shot well over the bar despite having the whole goal to aim at, in Windsor's first chance of the half.
With their next chance, albeit fifteen minutes later, Windsor levelled the match. A ball over the defence caught Saulsbury too far upfield, and Porter ran through to confidently slot home. 1-1
The goal marked the end of a first half which had been evenly matched, and it was no surprise to find the teams going into the break level.
Half-time: Aylesbury 1-1 Windsor & Eton
After the break things remained finely balanced, although Sillitoe was twice called into action early on ? tipping over a dipping effort, then smartly off his line to smother the ball down low.
Aylesbury hit back and Mark Boyce had a couple of efforts, firstly arriving in the box on the end of Glen Hawkins' cross, only able to fire wide under pressure. He then cut inside from the left, before shooting over.
The home side were tipping the chances meter at this point, as Kavanagh flicked an effort wide of the target from a deep free-kick.
Midway through the half Hawkins got on the end of another free-kick, heading down towards goal and drawing the game's first genuine save out of Chico Ramos, who flamboyantly palmed the ball away.
That was the closest Aylesbury came to making the breakthrough, as it became increasingly apparent the game was drifting towards extra-time.
There were still chances coming their way though, Matt Butler drove forward but dragged his shot wide, and both Mealor and Mead tried their luck from free-kicks: one wide, one straight at the keeper.
The last ten minutes passed uneventfully, and for the second year running Aylesbury's League Cup 2nd Round tie headed into extra-time.
End of 90 Minutes: Aylesbury 1-1 Windsor & Eton
The extra period exploded into life when first Carl Kavanagh met a near post free-kick but saw his effort cruelly rebound back off the bar. The ball dropped to his central defensive partner Ross Taylor who had a goal bound shot blocked by Steve Butler.
It was bad luck on United's part, and things took a turn for the worse when Windsor took the lead four minutes later. Another ball in behind Aylesbury's hesitant defence this time released Michael Chennell's. His shot rebounded off the onrushing Jack Sillitoe, before he could finish into the empty net. 2-1 Windsor & Eton
Chennell's was making the most of a tiring looking Aylesbury, and he ran through to force Sillitoe into a good low save five minutes later.
He should have wrapped up the game for Windsor moments later, when he was played in yet again. Sillitoe did a good job though in forcing him wide, and Chennell's could only force the ball back across the empty goal, despite the premature celebrations of some of his team mates.
Mark Jones brought himself on as a fresh pair of legs as the first period of extra time drew to a close, and he nearly made an instant impact with a low shot that had to be watched carefully by Ramos.
The second half of extra time proved fairly uneventful, as Aylesbury tried in vein to force an equaliser.
Roni Joe was the man who had the best chance, meeting Mead's cross with a header which went straight through to Ramos.
Apart from a driven effort from Ben Stevens which flew wide, there was to be no further action, and United's last chance of cup glory was brought to an end.
